The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Manhattanville College

Old School Players to New School Tools – How the Well Executed Pivot Made all the Difference

by

Dance Students from the Division of Fine and Performing Arts at Manhattanville College

To write that Covid was terrible for all educational programming, colleges and universities would be an understatement and perhaps not always true, so I won’t write that. Instead, I will write this: Covid forced educational programming, colleges and universities to decide whether or not they were willing and able to pivot; constantly. Those who were fortunate and creative enough to be willing and able are still open for enrollment. In fact, many admission offices are slammed with more student applicants than ever before. You can guess why….

Here I will share with you what I learned from individuals ‘in the know’ at two well respected local powerhouses of education in the area: Manhattanville College and Music Conservatory of Westchester.

“Streaming” was a common theme throughout our conversations; ranging from online performances and lessons to seminars and jam sessions, teachers and peers alike watched their audiences grow larger and larger as the viewers increased. Allowing their communities to access this functionality throughout the entire pandemic, in addition to equipping them with the proper toolbelt to do so, is truly a tribute to their dedication to education and unwavering ability to pivot. And pivot well. Enrollment and application numbers are healthier than ever!

Manhattanville College: Nurturing a Hub of ‘Intellectual Culture”

Clocking in at 180 years old (est. 1841), Manhattanville College is a private, liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in Purchase, New York. Music, Studio Arts, Dance, Musical Theater, and Theater are just a few of the programs offered here. Olivier Fluchaire, D.M.A. Division Chair & Associate Professor of Music at the school took some time to chat with me about what life at Manhattanville College has been like over the last 18 plus months; his life, his students’ lives, and his faculty’s well-being as well.

Tailored education

 “Our 70-member expert faculty in the Fine and Performing Arts Division stood as one, caring and engaging our students through this excruciating year,” said Dr. Fluchaire, “never allowing instruction to be altered and continuing our endeavor to deliver a tailored, individual education, while sharing our devotion to intellectual culture and the fine and performing arts.”

Enrollment for the Fine and Performing Arts at Manhattanville College started a little later than normal this year with the majority of applications received during the spring semester instead of the fall because no one knew what school was going to be like this fall. However, once that unknown fear initially subsided, Manhattanville witnessed a 25% increase in deposits for the fall of 2021, compared to last year’s enrollment rate.

While some staff was familiar with the new demands of computer integration into the classroom, plenty of professors had to learn some new skills. After all, just because you are a professional singer doesn’t mean that you know how to turn a zoom call into a “gallery” view. Art galleries went from on-foot to in-pixel and video editing became just as important as posting to social media accounts across multiple platforms. This massive new online presence is certainly to blame for the uptick in enrollment. Staff adapted, upgraded their skills, and also grew in numbers as additional and new talent was necessary.  

Auditions at Manhattanville are very stringent and require three different videos from different works or three different paintings, dances, etc. Because everything was done online, with all live auditions canceled, applicants had to upload their video submissions, there was an added layer of difficulty for some of the students; or so, they thought. BUT more applicants and email inquiries than ever gave proof through the pandemic that their school was still there. 

Dr. Fluchaire credits online word of mouth, students having time at home, behind the scenes tapings, and a devoted community as some of the gold tokens to take away. Programs here will keep up this aspect of streaming as much as possible regardless of where the teaching takes place moving forward. It was THAT impactful. Nice pivot.

Music Conservatory of Westchester: Intensive Training and Stand Out Students

Clocking in at 92 years old (est. 1929), the Music Conservatory of Westchester provides quality music education for students of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, with one-on-one instruction, performing ensembles, theory, composition, early childhood classes, lifelong learning for adults, and free community performances. Adriana Rivera, Manager of Communications & Marketing at MCW, spent time highlighting excellence within their community and a few remarkable students who are about to set forth on some incredible new beginnings.

MCW offers an intensive pre-college training program for talented high school instrumentalists and singers called MCW Prep. Similar to the other programming, these students too are selected by audition. Students enrolled in the program are offered a unique opportunity to study with master performers of the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. There is no other program in the New York State region that offers the chance for high school students to study with master teachers of this caliber.

Korliss Uecher, a soprano with the Metropolitan Opera and teacher at MCW Prep, didn’t seem to miss a beat with students who were graduating and ready to move in to the next chapter of their musical career. With the new inclusion of virtual lessons/ portals on their website and technology assistance as well, all aspects of the organization are churning out award-winning students whose academic achievements are also attributed to their study of music.

Two stand-out students that took this opportunity and experience, and who are about to set forth on new beginnings, are Palani DeMario and Ava Gallo-Grosskreuz. Both freshly graduated from high school during the most difficult of times and are ready to spread their talent and love for the fine and performing arts.

Palani is 18-years-old graduating from New Rochelle High School; a musical theater/pop singer who will be attending American Musical & Dramatic Academy in Fall 2021, Palani lives with his single mother who immigrated from Haiti. His mother is disabled, and Palani is the caretaker for her and two younger siblings. He sings in his school’s Select Choir and plays guitar.

Ava is also 18-years-old graduating from Hopewell Junction High School; a jazz/pop/contemporary singer, Ava will be attending Belmont University in Nashville to study in the Music Industry Program in Fall 2021.

So we conclude: Artists, Performers, Creators-alike burst with the type of passion that could never be silenced; not even by a pandemic. Driven by devotion, perseverance, art, and music, Manhattanville College and the Music Conservatory of Westchester not only survived but thrived. In the newly famous words of Eric Ries,“a pivot is a change in strategy without a change in vision.” Applause to a Proper Pivot.

HHREC Speaker on the 80th Anniversary of Kristallnacht

by

Dr. Rafael Medoff will speak at the 80th Anniversary of Kristallnacht at Manhattanville College.  Dr. Medoff’s topic will be FDR, Immigration Policy, and the Jews. Dr. Medoff is an American historian and the founding director of The David Wyman Institute, which is based in Washington, D.C. The Institute focuses on issues related to America’s response to the Holocaust.

Sponsored by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center on November 7 at 7 p.m., Manhattanville College, 2900 Purchase Street, Purchase, NY 10577. For more information, please contact Millie Jasper 914 696-0738 or mjasper@hhrecny.org

Medoff Lecture on “FDR, Immigration and the Jews” to Commemorate 80th Anniversary of Kristallnacht

by

 Manhattanville College Department of World Religions and the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center are proud to present a lecture by Rafael Medoff, entitled “FDR, Immigration Policy and the Jews” on Wednesday, November 7  at 7 p.m., at Manhattanville College. 

This presentation is part of the Distinguished Lecture series and will also commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) which takes place on November 9th.  This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is requested.

Dr. Medoff is an Historian and Founding Director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies.  The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust studies teaches the history and lessons of America’s response to the Holocaust through scholarly research, public events, publications and educational programs.  Dr. Medoff is also an editor and author of 17 books about Jewish history and the Holocaust. His forthcoming book “The Jews Should Keep Quiet: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and the Holocaust.” will be published in 2019.

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center’s mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of lessons of Holocaust and the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. We encourage students to speak up and act against all forms of bigotry and prejudice.   Some of our programs and initiatives include:

  • A Speakers Bureau, comprised of Holocaust Survivors and Liberators, who through first hand story telling reach over 25,000 students per year.
  • Provide curriculum with key lessons from the Holocaust for educators to use in fulfilling the NYS mandate, as well as professional development workshops. Free downloads of a Holocaust curriculum to teachers from across the country. 
  • Train thousands of Middle and High School students in our Human Rights Institutes. These student Upstanders return to their schools with a mission to develop human rights awareness among
    their peers.
  • Community programs include an annual Countywide Yom Hashoah Holocaust Commemoration and Annual Kristallnacht Commemoration
  • Robust programs of Events and Distinguished Lectures


Please click on the EVENTS tab on the HHREC website to register. For more information please contact Executive Director, Millie Jasper mjasper@hhrecny.org and visit our website www.hhrecny.org or call 914 696-0738.
                                                                                                                      . 

 

Dear Men: We Know You Are Walking on Eggshells. Take Note: We are, too.

by

Wise Words at  Manhattanville College School of Business| Women’s Leadership Institute’s 4th Annual Women’s Leadership Summit

‘Dare to be Bold’…was ‘Dare to Evolve’ 

By Michel Gunn

June 8, 2018, Purchase, NY — So, the 800-pound elephant in the room is how we go forward after #Metoo, the Women’s March, and all the other movements that are happening. This was addressed head on with the opening statements from Kathy Meany, the WLI Director, Laura Persky the Director and The Honorable George Latimer.

At the Manhattanville College Women’s Leadership Summit: (L-R0: Jean Mann, Hon. George Latimer; Westchester County Executive, Nancy Barr; Westchester County Legislator | 6th District, Laura Persky , Gilda Bonanno, and Kathy Meany

As professionals, we had to admit there are tensions in our offices. When I mentioned that I was going to The Summit to my male colleagues, we could have heard a pin drop with the silence. I found myself backpedaling for words to make them understand that that didn’t mean they should be worried.

The Summit’s address for this was synonymous with mine. They gave me words like “as women, we aren’t here to analyze every action and word that comes out of a man’s mouth.  There will still be pockets of outrage when the situations are just unduly repressive and harassing.  But, we are past most of the ugly part.  Now, it is time for the moving forward.  And this moving forward with us—at your side as equals—will be AMAZING—because we can finally give all of ourselves.”

The goal of the summit to me were the answers to two vital questions:

  • How do we move forward and do great work with men, now?
  • How do we use this opportunity to be the BEST LEADERS for the advancement we envision and beyond?

HIGHLIGHTS

She called herself the Warm-up Band, 30- year Army Colonel, Col. (Ret.) Donna Brazil, was funny, knowledgeable and seasoned in successful leadership strategies.  She made us define ourselves, by defining the characteristics we gravitate to in our mentors and influencers.  She showed us that we too, have those qualities, that we probably weren’t using. 

My take-away quote from her:  “If you’re leading no one but yourself, you’re still LEADING.”  (This gives me chills.)

Kathy Meany, in her quirky and funny way, she makes networking tactics reminders fun. Always important to review.

Vanessa Wakemen, Business Owner and Seasoned Speaker told us a story of DIVERSITY.  Basically, she was in a situation of being a diversity hire in the 1990’s, as a 29 -year-old woman, and a woman of color.  Her story of what she did with it was amazing.  If you every get to speak with her, ask her about what her mother told her to do.

Lunch consisted of our Honorable Catherine Borgia, Westchester County Legislator, 9th District.  In the fashion of the day, Ms. Borgia was a perfect addition, with her down-to-Earth manner and ability to relate to most in the room, as a mother and career woman. I was proud to have someone from my home town, and also with whom I have had the pleasure of working.*

We also heard from Manhattanville’s President,  Michael Geisler, Keia Clark and Adriana Kierszenbaum, Esq. as Food for thought to help us in our business with legal information and inspirational examples of success.

After lunch was really fun.  We played GAMES—With Gilda Bonanno—which got us ALL communicating on a higher level.

I know that sounds all hokey, but it was true, we had full bellies and brains, and were ready to LAUGH and exercise are qualities on each other.  The Games consisted mainly of how to improvise.  Which improvising is what good leaders do with suggestions from talent in meetings to nurture, along with when confronted with situations.

The games were also great to take back to our teams. Gilda was funny and really lightened the intensity of our learning.

MICRO-RESILIENCE –  OLYMPIC Medalist and Bestselling Author, BONNIE ST. JOHN graced us with multiple stories of triumph through adversity…and simple tactics to build RESILIENCE.

We heard of through odds of not just losing a leg as a child and growing up in a less-than wealthy family but suffering sexual abuse and the obvious obstacle of being a woman and a woman of color, she triumphed… all the way to a silver and two bronze medals in downhill events at the 1984 Paralympics in Innsbruck, Austria.

From Bonnie, we got inspired and listened to the concept of resilience.  She put it best when she said change isn’t slowing down, if anything it’s getting faster.  So, there won’t be that break time in the future, so learning resilience is how you strive and play to win.

More take-aways I got from Bonnie St. John to keep us in a direction of success:

  1. The Paralympics is the epitome of “not quite perfect” of Olympians. Use this as an example of just because something isn’t perfect looking, doesn’t mean that it won’t work. So, don’t wait to reach out to people, just because your elements aren’t ‘perfect’. Take a risk and do it.
  2. Designate a Zone for you to focus when you need to
  3. Working in teams works. When multiple people share a responsibility, your alliance to the team is better motivating than doing it alone.
  4. Define the REAL BOSS of your jobs. Put a picture of your end customer on your wall as the boss of your job(s), and every time you are deciding on a project, moving the company in a direction, ask yourself if this is the right move for the Boss. 

In was an inspiring day that I know the women I met with make every effort to keep the afterglow alive until we meet again… or implement one to the techniques and reap the benefits.

The Women in the room gave me chills in terms of how open they were to learn for the betterment of, not only themselves, but of the environments and work cultures they want to cultivate.

I’m looking forward to next year’s Summit.  Thank you to The School of Business at Manhattanville College, and the Women’s Leadership Institute for the lessons and insights…and the cupcakes.

So, guys.  We’re in this together.

Michel Gunn is CEO of Gunn Multimedia Partners, Inc.. Gunn describes herself as the ‘easy to talk to’ woman owner of a 15-year-old marketing agency specializing in ‘Small Business Lead Generation Tools’ such as Interactive Websites, Social Media Blogging and Advertising, and Copy/Content Creation which historically has enabled growth for $5Mm – $10M volume Businesses in the amount of 20%+ annually. She is also an animal lover.